His Lordship died in 1731, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
III. GEORGE MACKENZIE, third Earl of Cromarty. He joined Prince Charles in 1745 and fought at the battle of Falkirk at the head of 400 or 500 of his clan. Afterwards, on the 15th of April, the day immediately preceding the battle of Culloden, he was taken prisoner, along with his eldest son, Lord Macleod, and all his officers, at Dunrobin Castle, by two companies of Sutherlands and Mackays. He had previously detached himself from the main body of the Highland army with the view of seizing this castle and repressing the adherents of the Government in the far North. He was at once sent to London and imprisoned in the Tower. His vacillating conduct and uncertain correspondence with Lord President Forbes are notorious, for he actually wrote to the latter as late as October, 1745, saying that he was then "stirring actively in the cause of the Government." He was in due course tried, found guilty of high treason, and sentenced to death; but was afterwards pardoned through the bold and urgent entreaties of his Countess. In support of his own application for mercy, she waited personally on the members of the Cabinet, and presented a separate petition to each of them pleading for mercy, and on the Sunday after sentence was passed upon him, she went to Kensington Palace, dressed in deep mourning, accompanied by Lady Stair, to make a personal appeal to His Majesty for the Royal clemency. She was far advanced in pregnancy, and though a woman of strong mind, who had hitherto exhibited great fortitude in her distressing position, on this occasion she completely broke down, and gave way to grief. Taking her stand, surrounded by her ten young children, in the entrance of the Chapel through which the King had to pass, she awaited his arrival, and as he approached she fell on her knees, seized him by the coattails, presented her petition, and fainted at his feet. His Majesty immediately seized and raised her, received the petition, and handed it to the Duke of Grafton, who was present as one of his attendants. He then requested Lady Stair to conduct the Countess to one of the apartments. The Dukes of Hamilton and Montrose, the Earl of Stair, and other courtiers, having subsequently supported her petition by a personal application to the King, His Majesty, on the 9th of August, granted the Earl a free pardon, and he was at once set at liberty. His Lordship lived for several years in seclusion and poverty, supported mainly by the contributions of his old tenants and retainers on the forfeited estates.
He married Isabella, daughter of Sir William Gordon of Invergordon, with issue -
1. John, Lord Macleod, his heir.
2. Lord William, who died young.
3. Lord George, a Colonel in the 71st Regiment, who died unmarried in 1788.
4. Lady Isabella, who married George, VIth Lord Elibank, with issue, and in 1796 succeeded her cousin, Captain Kenneth, in the estates.
5. Lady Mary, who married, first, Captain Clarke, London; secondly, Thomas Drayton, South Carolina and thirdly, John Ainslie, Charlestown.
6. Lady Anne, who married, first, the Hon. Edmond Atkin, of South Carolina and secondly, Dr John Murray of Charlestown.
7. Lady Caroline, who married, first, a Mr Drake, of London, and secondly, Walter Hunter of Polmood and Crailieg.